Railway switch



Jan. 7, 1930.

D. C. SNYDER RAILWAY SWITCH INVENTOR 3 Sheetsheegt l Filed May 25, 1928 Z7. ,S12/tijd e ATTORNEY Jan. 7, 1930. D. c. sNYDER A 1,742,974

RAILWAY SWITCH Filed may 2e, 192e -s ,sneeze-sheet '2 INVENTOR ATTO R NEY Jan. 7, 1.930.

D. c. SNYDER RAILWAY sviITcH 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 26, 1928 ATTORNEY Patented `lan. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES DELL o. sNYDER, or STONY RIDGE, omo

RAILWAY SWITCH- Application filed May 26,

This invention relates to a railway switch to divert a railroad train to a branch line, or to maintain connection with the main line. The object of the invention is toprovide a movable switch, which will be less liable to damage in freezing weather by ice and to provide smooth joints at the switch ends.

The two sides of the switch rails are held in relative relation by a plurality of transverse pivoted yokes, giving the two sides a true parallel motion. Each of the switch rails is provided with a hinge connection at the main line end and are guided over faces of parallel bolster plates having transverse grooves to divert sleet and water. At the switching end of the pivoted switch is mounted on the cross ties, a multiple-crank shaft connecting at a plurality of points with the switch yokes, and

having a lever to throw the switch. A pivoted link connection with the crank-shaft gives the control lever control of the switch movement and simultaneously controls the movement of a semaphore to signal the engineer of an approaching train as to the condition of the switch setting.

The invention comprises a plurality of cooperating control features, which will be hereinafter fully described and the novelty of which will be specifically indicated in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention Figure 1 represents a plan of the invention- Figure 2 is a like view of the switch when thrown to divert traiiic to a branch line- Figure 3 is a side elevation of the switch.

Figure 4 is a section on the plane 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a control spring for the switch.

Figure 6 is a section on the plane 6-6 of Fig. 8.

Figure r Fig. 2.

Figure 8 is a transverse section on the plane 8 8 of Figure 1 and Figure 9 is a perspective view of a bed plate or bolster to support the rails at the "O switch.

7 isa section on the plane 7--7 of 1928. Serial No. 280,838.

Referring now in detail to the drawing- 1 represents the main line of a railway at which is mounted a switch 2 to throw the locomotive of a train direct along the main line, as indicated at Figure 1, or to divert it to a branch or side line as indicated in Figure 2. I provide both rails of the switch with a blunt end as indicated at 3 in Figure 1 to cooperate with the corresponding ends of the main or branch line rails. The switch rails are of considerable length as I prefer to make them 16 feet in length and connect each switch rail by hinged joint, as indicated at 4, the hinged plates being bolted as indicated at 8, in the webs of the rails between the head and the base. A plurality of bolts thru the web asjindicated at 7, clamp a spring plate 5 to the sides of the yielding spring joint. The plate is slotted in one end as indicated at 6 to permit suflicient movement of the switch rails to divert .traflic to the branch line. The switch rails are connectedby a plurality of yokes 9, having a hinged connection 11, with a leaf of the hinge11a at each end of the yoke. This hinged connection permits the rails when thrown to move as a unit and to swing with a parallel motion to its proper position with relation to the mainline rails or the branch line rails. The switch is thrown by a crank shaft controlled by a rightangled lever 15, forming an integral part of a crank shaft having a plurality of cranks 13, said shaft being mounted in chairs 14, spiked to the cross ties. A pair of pivoted guards 15a on the cross tie act as a detent to hold the lever set when the switch is opera-ted. An iron strap 16 is pivoted on the crank shaft and has a pivotal connection with the outside hinge leaf of the terminal yoke 9a adjacent the switch'. Y

The movable switch rails are guided over a pair of steel holsters or bed plates 17, having a plurality of transverse webs 17a forming depressions by which rain or sleet may be shed from the bed plates. Guide chairs are mounted at the sides of the bed plates and bolted to the cross ties, thus maintaining the main line beyond the switch in solid alinement or with the free ends of the switch rails in the branch line, as indicated in Figure '7,

2'y n l Y1,'74asm1 but the chairs 19 at the sides of the branch rails at their movable ends,are spaced transversely as indicated in Figures 1 and V2 to engage and clamp the edge of the lrail When throw in engagementwith the main line or the branch line, respectively. Y A pivoted arm 10 on the same pivot as'link 16 engages a pin projecting froma cylindrical semaphore 2l pivotally supported on the cross tie, the semaphore arms of which carry colors to indicate to an engineer the condition of the switch. For night use incandescent lamps may be mounted on the semaphore to indicate safetylor danger-according to the direction in which the'switch is thrown. The spring side gives a bias to `the switch andassists in 1 preserving true alinement of thevswitch rails when set for connection with the main line.

When thrown over to connect up with the f branch line, vthe cranks 13 vwill be on' dead center and `will prevent any accidental displacement. A similar lock will ofcourse oc# y cur when the crank is thrown for connection Withthe main line.` The transverse grooved surface ofthe bied plate permits thorough drainageof Water away fromtheswitch and prevents the accumulation of ice to interfere with 'the hand control switch, therebypreventing the rails at `the switch freezing fast Y tothe bed plate andgpreventing their shifting tothe branch line on emergency. 'The bed plate has at each-end a plurality-ofspike holes 181by which it may be spiked to the cross ties, While extending beneath theend Vozffthe main line rails at each end. At the movable end of the switch the bed plateis sulliciently Wide to bridgeV the rails of the main andbranch lines, as will beclear from an inspection of Figures ll and 2. c

Having thus .described my invention, what isclaimed as new'and desiredl to secure-by Letters Patent, is z- In a railway switch, fixed rail sections, laterallymovable rail sections,means connecting y the movable rail sections toprovidefor simultaneous movement,fpivotally Vconnected hinge plates secured to one side and hingvedly connecting theadjacent -ends ofthe yfixed rail sections and the laterally movable rail sections, and resilient plates upon opposite sid es of and connecting the ixedandvmovable rail sections, each of saidresilient plates having a sliding connection with at least one `rail section.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

Y DELL 4SNYDER. 

